During turning and repositioning, which combination of actions best protects skin?

During turning and repositioning, which combination of actions best protects skin?

• A. Drag the patient across the bed to reposition.
• B. Regular repositioning every two hours, pressure-relieving supports, and minimizing shear.
• C. Perform passive range of motion every 15 minutes.
• D. Ignore skin checks during movement.

Answer: (B)

Protecting skin during turning and repositioning comes from reducing pressure, friction, and shear while distributing the patient’s weight. Regularly changing position prevents prolonged pressure on any one area, especially over bony prominences. Pressure-relieving supports, such as foam overlays or specialized mattresses, spread out the load so peak pressures are lower. Minimizing shear means moving the patient with good technique (for example, log-rolling or using draw sheets and lifts) so the skin isn’t dragged across the bed, which can cause tearing and breakdown. Together, these approaches lower the risk of skin injury during movement and support ongoing skin assessment. Dragging the patient across the bed increases shear and friction, which harms skin. Purely doing passive range of motion every few minutes doesn’t address skin protection during repositioning. Ignoring skin checks means problems can develop unnoticed.

Protecting skin during turning and repositioning comes from reducing pressure, friction, and shear while distributing the patient’s weight. Regularly changing position prevents prolonged pressure on any one area, especially over bony prominences. Pressure-relieving supports, such as foam overlays or specialized mattresses, spread out the load so peak pressures are lower. Minimizing shear means moving the patient with good technique (for example, log-rolling or using draw sheets and lifts) so the skin isn’t dragged across the bed, which can cause tearing and breakdown. Together, these approaches lower the risk of skin injury during movement and support ongoing skin assessment.

Dragging the patient across the bed increases shear and friction, which harms skin. Purely doing passive range of motion every few minutes doesn’t address skin protection during repositioning. Ignoring skin checks means problems can develop unnoticed.